Ride was selected as an astronaut candidate in 1978, the same year she received a doctorate in physics from Stanford University. Five years later, she joined a mission on the shuttle Challenger, becoming the first American woman to fly in space. After a long career with NASA, Ride joined the University of California at San Diego as a professor and the director of the University of California’s Space Institute. But Ride’s most enduring passion involves passing along her love of science to young people – especially young women and girls. She has written six science books for children and founded Sally Ride Science to motivate young women to pursue careers in science, math and technology.

Join KLRU’s Texas Monthly Talks for an interview with Gwen Ifill who is in Texas to participate in the national PBS conference. The taping will take place on May 18 at 4 p.m. Doors open at 3:30 p.m. This event is free, but an RSVP is required. RSVP here

Ifill fills two major roles at PBS: moderator and managing editor of Washington Week and as senior correspondent for the PBS NewsHour. That puts her at the center of political journalism in the US, with a close-up view of what’s happening in Washington. Ifill has gained her political knowledge covering six presidential campaigns for both television and print media. She has also moderated two vice presidential debates, including the 2008 between Sarah Palin and Joe Biden. Ifill’s best-selling book, The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama, was published last year.

Join Evan Smith and KLRU’s Texas Monthly Talks on Friday, March 26, at 10 a.m. for a conversation with Jake Silverstein, Editor of TEXAS MONTHLY and author of a new book, Nothing Happened and Then it Did: A Chronicle in Fact and Fiction. RSVP here. Silverstein was previously a reporter at the Big Bend Sentinel in Marfa and a 2002 Fulbright Scholar in Zacatecas, Mexico. He is a Contributing Editor to Harper‘s magazine and an essay for that magazine earned him the 2007 PEN/USA Journalism Award. He joined TEXAS MONTHLY as a Senior Editor in 2006 and was named Editor in 2008.

Join Evan Smith and KLRU’s Texas Monthly Talks for a conversation with political journalists John Heilemann and Mark Halperin on Friday, March 5, at 10:15 a.m. RSVP now

Halperin and Heilemann know as much about American politics as anyone. And they share their insights and inside knowledge with a wide audience through Heilemann’s work for New York magazine and Halperin’s with Time and the political blog, The Page. They’ve co-authored the bestselling book, Game Change, which takes a behind-the-scenes look at the 2008 presidential election.

KLRU will be taping several episodes of Texas Monthly Talks in February. Come be part of the live studio audience for this award winning statewide series. Each taping features an interview with the guest and then a short audience q&a. Please RSVP for each taping you’d like to attend. All tapings take place in KLRU’s Austin City Limits Studio 6A.

Newsweek editor Jon Meacham 2/8 at 2:45 p.m. RSVP HereMeacham’s interests and expertise reach across a broad range of American culture: political history, foreign affairs, the Civil Rights movement and the role of religion in American history and contemporary society. Meacham is in Austin as part of The University of Texas LBJ School of Public Affairs Center for Politics and Governance Perspectives Series. Taping starts promptly at 2:45 p.m. Doors open at 2 p.m. RSVP Here

David Brancaccio 2/16 at 10:30 a.m.RSVP HereBrancaccio is host and senior editor of NOW on PBS, public television’s award-winning newsmagazine of investigative reporting and in-depth interviews. Among his beats: politics, human rights, national security, the environment, health care, and science policy. Taping starts promptly at 10:30 a.m. Doors open at 10 a.m. RSVP Here

San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro 2/17 at 10:15 a.m. RSVP hereCastro took office just eight months ago after taking 56 percent of the vote in a nine-way race. At 35 years old, he’s the youngest mayor in any of the 50 largest U.S. cities but he’s already nine years into a political career that to many seemed almost inevitable. Taping starts promptly at 10:15 a.m. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. RSVP here

Join Evan Smith and KLRU’s Texas Monthly Talks for a conversation with Augie Garrido, head baseball coach for The University of Texas at Austin on Monday, January 25. RSVP here

The Longhorns start their season on February 19 with a number one pre-season ranking and high hopes for the year. Garrido’s record gives fans good reason for big expectations. He has more wins than any other baseball coach in NCAA history, taking teams to the College World Series twelve times and leading five national championship teams.

Join Evan Smith and KLRU’s Texas Monthly Talks for a conversation with Michael Williams, who holds a seat on the Railroad Commission of Texas, on December 17 at 12:15 p.m. One year ago, Williams announced his plan to run for a seat in the United States Senate. His hope is to take Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison’s place in a special election if she leaves Washington but he’s also widely considered to be a likely appointee to fill a vacancy until an election can be held. Williams is a staunch conservative who would become the lone African-American Republican in the Senate, and he’s gained attention nationwide. Join us to learn more about the candidate and his views.

Join KLRU in the studio for a Texas Monthly Talks taping with 60 Minutes correspondent Morley Safer. Evan Smith talks with the legendary newsman about his career and journalism today. Taping starts at 11:15 a.m. on Friday, November 13. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. RSVP here

Join KLRU in the studio for a Texas Monthly Talks taping with Director Richard Linklater. Evan Smith talks with the Texas filmmaker about his career and his next project, Me and Orson Welles, which hits theaters November 25. Taping starts at 11:45 a.m. on Wednesday, November 4. Doors open at 11 a.m. RSVP here